Ms. Honey V. Colis, Administrative Officer IV of the Office of the President, attended on November 14-15, 2014 a “Workshop on Academic Recognition and Credit Transfer” at Apsara Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The workshop was organized by the European Universities in the framework of the implementation of nine Erasmus Mundus Action 2 (EMA2) projects on the Asia Regional Lot. It is organized in cooperation with the Directorate General of Higher Education in Cambodia.

The workshop sought to promote a common understanding of the key tools for recognition of foreign qualifications and facilitating better understanding of the basic principles of the recognition of academic exchange and degree mobility periods abroad; discuss the compatibility of the different credit transfer systems and the opportunities and challenges in the field of academic recognition; share the existing best practices related to the recognition process and disseminating the information on the actions pursued at regional level by the different bodies involved; and discuss and measure the impact of the academic mobility on the grantees’ employability in the home countries.

The two-day workshop covered plenary sessions on Mobility Opportunities and Challenges of Recognition of a Study Period Abroad, The Bologna Process and its Impact in Asia, Mobility and Recognition Problems from the Students’ Perspective and Globalization, and Standardization of Student Data Portability. SMCLemos

The University Student Services Office (USSO) headed by Engr. Manolo B. Loreto, Jr., Dean of Students, sent seven delegates to the 35^th PACSA Annual National Convention and the 19^th PACS Annual National Convention for Student leaders on November 22-25, 2014 at the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City, two participants to the 39^th YMCA Congress of Students, and one representative to the 19^th YMCA National Campus Club Advisers Seminar-Workshop on December 3-7, 2014 at the Teachers’ Camp in Baguio City.

The Philippine Association of Campus Student Advisers (PACSA) was guided by its theme “PACSA @ 35 turns CORAL: Celebrating Our Rebirth as an Association of Leaders.”  Its mission is the integral and holistic formation of campus advisers and student leaders from the 17 regions of the country through an enlightened intellectual, moral, social, and spiritual citizenry.

The VSU participants included: (Students) Chrisalyne S. Malasaga, Joaquin Javier F. Balce, David Winston Tabada, and Randy C. Briones; and (Faculty and Staff) Christie Cyrene T. Tauy, Raymund M. Igcasama, and Rene Rose.

On the other hand, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Manila, in coordination  with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),  organized the YMCA Congress with the theme “Youth Rev: Towards a JUST Society.”

According to Dr. Adelaida C. Fronda, Chairperson of the YMCA National Congress, the two separate occasions aim to create a higher level of awareness, understanding and appreciation among the youth on the current political, economic and societal factors that contribute to the prevailing societal problems affecting them; provide a venue for healthy sharing of ideas, aspirations, ideals and dreams toward identifying societal constraints and support mechanisms instrumental to the realization of their dreams and to prepare collectively their personal and group roadmap on the youth journey towards a better future.

The VSU delegates to this congress included Jessie James S. Layan, Clyde B. Managbanag, and Shelah D. Doromas.  JFMBaldos